Cincinnati Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Friday July 24 2026
The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game NL Central series Friday night at Busch Stadium, and this Reds vs Cardinals prediction breaks down the odds, matchups and betting value bettors need before first pitch at 8:15 PM ET. With St. Louis favored at home behind a meaningful starting-pitching edge, bettors chasing more value across the slate can check our MLB picks hub for additional plays tonight.
TLDR: Quick Picks and Prediction
- Spread Pick: St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (+128)
- Total Pick: Over 8 (-105)
- Projected Final Score: Cardinals 6, Reds 4
Odds and Line Movement
St. Louis' moneyline has eased slightly since the market opened, moving from -162 Wednesday afternoon out to -168 Thursday evening before settling at -157 by Friday morning, while Cincinnati has drifted from +134 up to +139 and back to +130 over the same stretch. The total has dropped significantly, opening at 8½o+100/8½u-120 Wednesday afternoon and falling all the way to 8o-109/8u-111 as of Friday morning.
Current Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | +130 | O 8 (-109) / U 8 (-111) |
| St. Louis Cardinals | -157 |
Line Movement - Moneyline
| Date | Time | Cincinnati | St. Louis | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/24 | 09:29:10 AM | +130 | -157 | CIN 86%, 30% |
| 07/23 | 09:54:27 PM | +139 | -168 | CIN 86%, 32% |
| 07/23 | 09:54:27 PM | +139 | -168 | STL 94%, 64% |
| 07/23 | 09:54:27 PM | +139 | -168 | STL 95%, 75% |
| 07/23 | 09:52:38 PM | +139 | -168 | STL 90%, 71% |
| 07/23 | 03:39:35 PM | +139 | -168 | |
| 07/23 | 03:39:35 PM | +139 | -168 | |
| 07/23 | 03:34:15 PM | +134 | -162 |
Line Movement - Total
| Date | Time | Over | Under | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/24 | 09:29:10 AM | 8o-109 | 8u-111 | U91%, NULL |
| 07/24 | 08:58:08 AM | 8o-111 | 8u-109 | U84%, U55% |
| 07/23 | 09:54:27 PM | 8o-114 | 8u-105 | U84%, U55% |
| 07/23 | 05:59:36 PM | 8½o-102 | 8½u-118 | |
| 07/23 | 03:39:35 PM | 8½o-104 | 8½u-116 | |
| 07/23 | 03:34:15 PM | 8½o+100 | 8½u-120 |
Reds vs Cardinals Key Matchups and Game Preview
St. Louis begins the series at 52-50 and sits 12 games behind Milwaukee in the division, while Cincinnati is 47-54 and 16.5 games out despite winning four of its last six. The Cardinals are also available at +128 to cover 1.5 runs, while the Reds are -155 with the run-line cushion.
Lowder vs May
Rhett Lowder starts for the Reds carrying a 3-7 record, 5.75 ERA and 1.64 WHIP through 72 innings. The right-hander has allowed 83 hits and issued 35 walks while striking out 61, creating concern against a Cardinals lineup that has produced a .317 on-base percentage. Dustin May counters for St. Louis with a 5-7 record, 4.78 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 98 innings. May has recorded 95 strikeouts against 32 walks while allowing only seven home runs, giving the Cardinals a meaningful starting-pitching advantage in command, swing-and-miss ability and limiting damaging contact.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Reds Offense
Cincinnati has hit 134 home runs compared with St. Louis' 110 and owns the better .400-to-.384 slugging percentage, but the Cardinals have scored 31 more runs and hold advantages in batting average and on-base percentage. Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds with a .276 average, .351 OBP and .503 slugging percentage, while Sal Stewart has provided 21 homers and 74 RBIs.
Cardinals Offense
St. Louis is powered by Jordan Walker, who is batting .291 with 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .352 OBP and a .519 slugging percentage.
St. Louis' Series History
The Cardinals have won four of five completed meetings in the season series and possess the superior team pitching profile, posting a 4.18 ERA and 1.34 WHIP compared with Cincinnati's 4.56 ERA and 1.43 WHIP.
CIN and STL Betting Trends
St. Louis' moneyline has eased from -168 down to -157 through Friday morning even as Cincinnati's public backing has remained strong, showing the market has softened slightly on the Cardinals despite their pitching edge. The total has fallen sharply from 8½o+100 down to 8o-109, reflecting growing belief in a tighter, lower-scoring game given May's command advantage over Lowder.
CIN and STL Key Injuries and Things To Know
Cincinnati's lineup remains without Matt McLain, removing an important middle-infield bat, while Blake Dunn is also unavailable. Nick Lodolo and Brandon Williamson are sidelined from the rotation, and Tony Santillan's absence reduces bullpen depth. St. Louis is monitoring Pedro Pages, whose possible absence would affect its catching depth, while JoJo Romero, Ramon Urias and Max Rajcic remain unavailable.
Reds vs Cardinals Side and Over/Under Picks
- Side Pick: St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (+128)
- Total Pick: Over 8 (-105)
Lowder's elevated walk and baserunner rates make St. Louis the stronger side, but both offenses should generate enough traffic to challenge the total in a game with real power on both sides.
Final Score Prediction
- Cardinals 6, Reds 4
How to Wager On Cardinals vs Reds
Bettors weighing St. Louis on the run line or leaning toward the Over in this NL Central opener have several tools available to help sharpen the process before placing a wager. Our AI picks hub compiles model-driven projections for spots like this one, while a closer look at the Dimers review and the Oddible review can help bettors compare how different projection systems are pricing May's command edge over Lowder's control problems. Given the notable movement on both the run line and total, shopping for the best number on St. Louis -1.5 or Over 8 before first pitch is worth the extra effort in a series where the Cardinals have already dominated the head-to-head matchup this season.
Never Tried Picks and Parlays? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code BUCK
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $150 in Bonus Bets *Paid Within 14 Days
